Olympic golf could use a mulligan. The Rio Olympics were supposed to be golf’s glorious return to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years, but fears over the Zika virus and other factors have kept many of the game’s elite players from making the trip. Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry and Vijay Singh are among the biggest names who’ve withdrawn.
ALSO SEE: Channel Guide Magazine Coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics
Olympic golf also faces challenges from a brutal schedule stretch that includes the British Open, PGA Championship, FedExCup playoffs and Ryder Cup, and the lure of being an Olympic golf medalist may not be strong enough to draw players to Rio. Many golfers may choose to bypass the Olympics to rest or prepare for other — at least in golf culture and tradition — more prestigious tournaments.
So who will be playing? Playing for Team USA are Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed. Other top international players include Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Justin Rose (Great Britain), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Byeong Hun An (South Korea), Danny Lee (New Zealand) and Martin Kaymer (Germany). In the women’s tournament, expect to see Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Brooke M. Henderson (Canada), Inbee Park (South Korea) and Lexi Thompson (USA) among the medal hopefuls. Rounding out Team USA are Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller.
Olympic golf consists of men’s and women’s individual events contested in a 72-hole stroke play format at the new Reserva Marapendi course built specifically for the Games. A total of 60 players qualify for each of the men’s and women’s events, with qualification based on the Official World Golf Ranking as of July 11. Golf Channel airs the men’s tournament Aug. 11-14 and the women’s tournament Aug. 17-20.
Rio 2016 Olympic Golf TV Schedule
DATE | TIME | EVENT/PROGRAM | NETWORK |
11-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
11-Aug | 6:30 AM | Men’s Golf – First Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
11-Aug | 9:00 AM | Men’s Golf – First Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
11-Aug | 12:00 PM | Men’s Golf – First Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
11-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
11-Aug | 11:00 PM | Men’s Golf – First Round Encore | Golf Channel |
12-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
12-Aug | 6:30 AM | Men’s Golf – Second Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
12-Aug | 9:00 AM | Men’s Golf – Second Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
12-Aug | 12:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Second Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
12-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
12-Aug | 11:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Second Round Encore | Golf Channel |
13-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
13-Aug | 6:30 AM | Men’s Golf – Third Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
13-Aug | 9:00 AM | Men’s Golf – Third Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
13-Aug | 12:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Third Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
13-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
13-Aug | 11:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Third Round Encore | Golf Channel |
14-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
14-Aug | 6:30 AM | Men’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
14-Aug | 9:00 AM | Men’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
14-Aug | 12:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
14-Aug | 1:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | NBC |
14-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
14-Aug | 11:00 PM | Men’s Golf – Final Round Encore | Golf Channel |
15-Aug | 9:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
15-Aug | 6:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
16-Aug | 9:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
16-Aug | 6:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
17-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
17-Aug | 6:30 AM | Women’s Golf – First Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
17-Aug | 9:00 AM | Women’s Golf – First Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
17-Aug | 12:00 PM | Women’s Golf – First Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
17-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
17-Aug | 11:00 PM | Women’s Golf – First Round Encore | Golf Channel |
18-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
18-Aug | 6:30 AM | Women’s Golf – Second Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
18-Aug | 9:00 AM | Women’s Golf – Second Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
18-Aug | 12:00 PM | Women’s Golf – Second Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
18-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
18-Aug | 11:00 PM | Women’s Golf – Second Round Encore | Golf Channel |
19-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
19-Aug | 6:30 AM | Women’s Golf – Third Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
19-Aug | 9:00 AM | Women’s Golf – Third Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
19-Aug | 12:00 PM | Women’s Golf – Third Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
19-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
19-Aug | 11:00 PM | Women’s Golf – Third Round Encore | Golf Channel |
20-Aug | 5:00 AM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
20-Aug | 6:30 AM | Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
20-Aug | 9:00 AM | Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
20-Aug | 12:00 PM | Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | Golf Channel |
20-Aug | 12:15 PM | Women’s Golf – Final Round (LIVE) | NBC |
20-Aug | 3:00 PM | Golf Central Live From the Olympics | Golf Channel |
20-Aug | 11:00 PM | Women’s Golf – Final Round Encore | Golf Channel |
Now is the time! Watch Men's #OlympicGolf live on Golf Channel & streaming via @NBCOlympics: https://t.co/yMAj4w7IQn pic.twitter.com/YsoLmc3GmM
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 11, 2016
It's official. Meet the 2016 USA GOLF Olympic team! #TeamUSA #olympicgolf #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/JNnxwssBhN
— USA GOLF (@USAGolf) July 18, 2016